Mythology has been a critical component of storytelling for millennia across the many cultures of the world. Any country that produces media is bound to be influenced by their myths, whether that be a conscious decision or otherwise. Japan is no exception and, since a lot of mangaka use Japanese mythology as a way to express themselves through their manga, I decided that the topic was worth examining.
The first manga series that I would like to tackle is Naruto, a series very dear to my heart. Set in a Japanese-style fantasy world, Masashi Kishimoto makes frequent use of Japanese mythology to enhance the world he has built. One of the most notable examples is the use of Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru, referred to in Naruto as The Legendary Sannin, who come from The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya. Many of the aspects that make the characters stand out such as the trios association with toads, slugs and snakes respectively, Jiraiya’s love for Tsunade and the conflict between Jiraiya and Orochimaru is preserved (although, understandably, Masashi Kishimoto decided to change other aspects of the characters).
There are many other uses of Japanese myths in Naruto although Masashi Kishimoto decides to use some to merely provide flavour. An interesting example is Amaterasu, a fire technique usable by Uchiha clan members who have unlocked their Mangekyō Sharingan. The name comes from the goddess Amaterasu, the deity associated with the sun and universe within Shinto and considered by some to be the most important god within Shinto. Other Mangekyō Sharingan techniques such as the Susanoo and Tsukuyomi are also named after Shinto deities.
Moving on from Naruto, another popular example of Japanese myth within manga is Death Note which makes use of the shinigami. A relatively recent addition to Japanese folklore, shinigami are deities or spirits associated with death who make sure that humans die when their time is up. Within Death Note, the shinigami can kill humans by writing their names within the titular Death Notes and the series begins when a shinigami named Ryuk decides to drop one of these in the human world to ease his boredom.
When mangaka Shigeru Mizuki decided to write GeGeGe no Kitarō, unarguably his most popular series, he decided to draw on the myths of yokai. Yokai are often referred to as either spirits or monsters but are exceptionally varied with many ranging from human looking to resembling animals or even inanimate objects. Ever since Kitarō helped popularise the use of yokai in storytelling, many other manga such as Black Bird, Mononoke, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan and more feature yokai prominently.
Another highly influential Japanese folktale is The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, sometimes referred to as The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Many aspects of the story such as the reveal that Princess Kaguya is from the moon or the impossible trials the suitors have to pursue in order to win the hand of Kaguya have been reused in many manga series. While many will undoubtedly associate Kaguya with either the recent Studio Ghibli movie or the character in Naruto, I’m always reminded of Arina Tanemura’s Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura when I think of modern retellings.
I’m always fascinated when examining the impact that Japanese mythology has had on manga and other forms of Japanese popular culture. Let me know what components of Japanese mythology you’ve noticed in manga, which aspects you find most interesting and what some of your favourite manga dealing with Japanese myths are.
Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use amazon.co.uk or amazon.com for all of your needs!
[…] Examining the Use of Japanese Mythology in Manga […]